Hudon will be back in lineup for Beantown tilt
Julien considers changes following weak performance against Sabres
BOSTON Coaches are reluctant to make changes when a team is winning, but after not looking very good in a 4-3 loss in Buffalo Thursday night, there will be at least one new face in the Canadiens lineup for Saturday’s game against the Bruins (7 p.m., SN1, Citytv, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).
Canadiens coach Claude Julien confirmed that winger Charles Hudon will dress after three games as a healthy scratch.
“There will probably be other changes, but I haven’t made any final decisions,” Julien said after the Canadiens practised for 35 minutes at the Bruins’ practice facility in suburban Brighton, Mass.
The other possible change up front could involve Nikita Scherbak, who has yet to play a game this season. The knock on Scherbak is that he’s all offence and no defence, but he’s not going to develop if he doesn’t play. The Canadiens are reluctant to send him to Laval because he would first have to clear waivers and Montreal believes some team would claim him.
The Boston game takes on added importance because the Canadiens let the Buffalo game get away from them. While the Sabres enjoyed an advantage in the play, the Canadiens led on three separate occasions before losing on a Kyle Okposo power-play goal with 61 seconds remaining in regulation.
Julien coached the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011 and while he still has ties in the city — he’s rooting for the Red Sox in the World Series and is on a first-name basis with Patriots coach Bill Belichick — he’s focused on Saturday ’s game.
“We’re still a young team trying to get better,” Julien said. “As you saw yesterday, we have some things to learn. At the end of the day, it’s about trying to win a hockey game tomorrow. This is an important road trip for us and we let two points slip away yesterday. We have make sure we’re hungry and get two points so we can come back home at .500.”
Julien is aware that it’s the biggest challenge for his team, which thus far hasn’t lost consecutive games.
“Nothing has changed for them,” he said. “They’re still extremely strong defensively. They don’t give you much. At the same time, especially that one line, they can do a lot of damage. They won 3-0 yesterday and that line didn’t get a point, but they found a way to win. It’s a challenge, but I find that when you see that challenge in front of you, you’re better prepared and you’re ready to play. I hope that’s the case.”
“That one line” features Patrice Bergeron between David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. Julien knows what they can do because he assembled the trio during his tenure in Boston.
“The only thing that’s different from when I was here is that Pastrnak is an older player and more established,” Julien said.
Pastrnak was tied for the NHL lead in goals with 10 before Friday ’s games, while Bergeron shared the scoring lead with 16 points, including seven goals.
While the Bruins have a reputation for strong defence, they are banged up and coach Bruce Cassidy said that means 41-year-old Zdeno Chara is playing more minutes than usual, which is why he took a day off from practice Friday. The Canadiens will try to take advantage with a strong forecheck and quick entries.
Defencemen Kevan Miller and Charlie McAvoy are both out of the Bruins lineup, but there’s a possibility Torey Krug may make his season debut after being sidelined with an ankle injury. He practised Friday and Cassidy said his availability will be a game-time decision.